Dear & I touched down at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport – Minnesota, USA at local American time about 11.15am (13 hours behind Singapore) – flying almost 11 hours from Tokyo, Japan.

All the way from our hometown in Singapore, Minneapolis is our 2nd & last Transit Stop on our way to our final destination in Orlando, Florida in USA – Our next & last connecting flight to Orlando takes off at 3.30pm from Minneapolis.

Known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes“ (actually it has more than 12000 Lakes!!), the State’s name – “Minnesota” is based on the Dakota or Sioux Indian word for “Sky-tinted Water” which refers to the Minnesota Rivers & the State’s many Lakes. Filled with massive Water, Lakes, Forests, Parks & Wilderness areas, nearly 60% of Minnesota residents live in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis-Saint Paul – also known as the “Twin Cities” – the former the Largest City & the later the Capital of Minnesota.

Map of Minnesota :

Upon our arrival at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Dear & I have to queue for a pretty long time at the US Immigration Checkpoint cos there’re many travellers, & we’re asked a few questions by the Immigration Officer such as “Why are we here in the US?”, “How long will we be staying in the US?” & “Is this our first visit to the US?” – basically he wana make sure that we’re not illegal immigrants into the USA.

And true enough as we read earlier during our flight from Tokyo to Minneapolis when we were filling up the US Immigration Arrival & Departure Forms – that only one Form needs to be filled if we’re travelling as a Family – as confirmed with the Immigration Officer (in this case he accepts my Singaporean Green Form instead of Dear’s).

And then we were told by the Officer to submit a Form (which is part of the Forms we filled up earlier) to a Flight Baggage Counter just outside the main Immigration Checkpoint, so that our checked-in Travelling Luggages (from Singapore) will continue to be automatically transferred (just like in Tokyo) to our next connecting domestic flight, to our final destination in Orlando, Florida.

US Immigration Checkpoint :

And well, once out of the Immigration Checkpoint it’s of course shopping time again for Dear & I – Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport has 2 Terminals – Humphrey Terminal, & Lindbergh Terminal which is where we’re at right now.

Lindbergh Terminal at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport :

Lindbergh Terminal Information & Map :

Dear & I first stop by the Mcdonald’s Restaurant for a take-out Drink :

Dear queuing at the Mcdonald’s :

And our pick of an American Drink is MELLO YELLO – a citrus-flavoured soft drink (which I later find out is produced & distributed by the Coca-Cola Company – NO WONDER Dear & I love it at first sip cos we love Coca Cola lots lots!!!

Directly opposite Mcdonald’s is North Shore News & Gifts where Dear & I visit & if you know me very well – YES!! I’m hunting for my Minnesota Souvenir Magnets alright!!

Dear walking out of North Shore News & Gifts after paying for my Minnesota Souvenirs – Magnets of course heheh!!

Here’s my MINNESOTA WATER GLOBE Souvenir Magnet – with a moving horned Buffalo head in a pictureque Minnesota with Christmas Trees, Moose & 2 Common Loons (State Birds of black & white with red eyes) in the Lake, & a Fish being hooked up!

And here’s view of the Moose in the Lake :

Minnesota Moose Souvenir Maget :

And below are Minnesota Timber Wolf Souvenir Magnets seen in the Shop which Dear says are not nice though I think they’re pretty cool (guess cos I’ve always been fasinated with Wolves – & I happen to love the Movie “Dances With Wolves“). Anyway, I never get any of these Wolf Magnets cos am thinking I can always come back to buy later, which I later regret cos I totally forget about it – Sob Sob ((

Dear & I continue to shop around in the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, & we’re surprised to see that it’s actually very huge & spacious, with many pretty & interesting shops & restaurants too!

Dear’s now standing outside MINNESOTA! – such a beautiful store with a large wooden carved MOOSE gracing the front – how Unique!! Haha I just love things wooden :

And upon entering MINNESOTA!- we’re immediately greeted by a very friendly local Salesgirl with whom Dear & I start chatting with – & she gets pretty amazed when she hears that we’re from Singapore & that we’ve just flown almost 20 hours here to Minneapolis!!

And at the same time, I can’t help by telling her how lucky she is to be living in Minnesota, & how I envy her cos it’s such a lovely place up here in the North, where I can see many Christmas Trees & white SNOWY patches everywhere when I was up in our Flight just before landing at the Airport – & she says that it’s indeed very beautiful out here except that she wishes it’s not so cold!!!

And here’s another large greeting of a huge wooden Minnesota WELCOME BLACK BEARS at the entrance – see also the Black Salesgirl on the left – well, there’re many Black employees like her in the Airport whom we later see :

And Dear & I are really thrilled to see that each & every corner inside MINNESOTA! is adorned with many special beautiful local Souvenirs such as wooden photo frames, kitchenware, t-shirts, accessories etc – & here’re colorful Pamphlets of the Minnesota Wildlife :

And while paying for our purchases at the cash counter, we see the following Chocolate Moose Droppings which are highly recommended by the Salesgirl & which for a seconds, Dear & I think that they’re for real – as though they’re REAL Moose Droppings covered with Chocolates!! Hahahah!! How SILLY of us – of course they’re not cos they’re just Chocolate Covered Almonds!!

Dear outside MINNESOTA! now :

Dear’s Souvenir T-Shirt which he just bought from MINNESOTA! :

Minnesota Moose Canoeing in Lake – Back Print of the T-Shirt :

And very interestingly, below’s the details Label on the T-shirt, & it’s MADE IN MEXICO of 100% USA Ringspun Cotton – pretty cool ha!!

Now, the following is my MINNESOTA MAP Souvenir Magnet – I’ve seen this on the Internet before & really liked it alot – wondering how nice if I can get hold of one too – & NOW I’VE GOT IT myself – HOW COOL is that!!!

MINNESOTA PEBBLE STONE with PAINTED MOOSE & STATE NAME Souvenir Magnet :

And guess what!! I actually ask the Salesgirl if this’s a real Pebble Stone which can be commonly found in the local streets of Minneapolis hahah!!

And here’s our most beautiful & special MINNESOTA! Land of 10,000 Lakes PHOTO FRAME which Dear & I both fall in love at first sight!!

Our MINNESOTA! Shopping Bag :

We’re now outside MINNESOTA! - see the local Musican saleslady playing Harp to 2 cutie American boys :

Dear & I next visit the MSP NEWS Store which is located directly opposite MINNESOTA! :

Dear standing outside MSP NEWS now :

And here’s my MINNESOTA The North Star State Souvenir Magnet which I just got from MSP NEWS :

“The North Star” is Minnesota’s official State Motto since statehood in 1858, & it appears on the Great Seal of Minnesota & State Flag :

We now come to the SPIRIT OF THE RED HORSE – a lovely Native American jewelry & specialty Store with Minnesota Red Indians themed Souvenirs – & I’m really attracted to this Store as I’ve always adored the Red Indians culture – here inside is full of Brass Metallic souvenirs :

And by now, Dear & I are both very much amazed & amused by the many types, big & small, special, beautiful & extraordinary souvenirs we see in most of the Shops here at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport that we don get to see back home in Singapore, or in most countries we’ve travelled to.

And we feel really happy that we can be here enjoying the experience together – especially Dear who still can’t believe that he’s really here in America!! And he keeps asking me if it’s all a dream haha!!

Dear’s now beside a Consumer Electronics Automated Zoon Systems – Express Buy :

We’re now inside ZOZO – a trendy gift Store, & here we see ICE CREAM Bath Fizz which look so much like real!! Mmmm……..both Dear & I love Ice Cream so much so much!!!

Yummy-looking Cupcake Bubble Bath :

iPOP Souvenir Magnets which I’ve got similar types from Hong Kong :

Here’re the similar Hong Kong Souvenir Magnets which I have – from among the many HK ones (which I’ll showcase to you asap) which I got my good friend Guat Tzin to help buy during her last trip to the Food Paradise :

So CUTE so CUTE right!!

Now, let’s see some very intriguing Minnesota Tin-made Handbags, Photo Frames, Candle Holders etc inside ZOZO :

Cute Cute Minnesota Dog Treats – how superb!! These remind me very much & Dear of his family doggies back home in Singapore :

More Dog Treats – this time in the form of colorful Doughnuts – so pretty pretty!!

Buddy Bones Dog Treats – now with the so many types & cutie Dog Treats which I believe they must be yummy too that I’m begining to think how very lucky Dogs really are!! Guess they’re not called Man’s BEST FRIENDs for nothing ha!!!

We’re now moving on as quick as possible after leaving ZOZO as Dear & I are not sure how big Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport really is, & we wana make sure we get to see & shop as much as we can within the limited time we have here :

See the very famous Minnesota State Lottery beside ZOZO :

Soon we chance upon the Minnesota Harley-Davidson Boutique & Dear excitedly stops me to take a photo for him :

In fact Dear’s currently wearing his Kangaroos Riding Harley-Davidson Australia T-shirt (hidden behind his black jacket) which he bought in his last Business Trip to Sydney!!

Here’s a Snapshot :

And suddenly a passerby with his lady partner walking past us stops & offers to help take a pic of both Dear & I together – how great!! Americans are really friendly & very cool!!!

Now, below’s Me with our Baby Smartie who’s come to SAY HELLO to the local Minnesota friends :

We next stop by the local Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory :

Dear inside the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory now – he luvs chocolates chocolates!!!

Just look at the many many different types of Chocolates & Fudges & the so adorable Chocolate-covered Apples with the upright popping sticks!!

Dear hesitates on trying the APPLE but decides not to as he’s worried that he may get too heaty as he’ll be very busy once he reaches Orlando, Florida as he needs to attend the Solidworks World 2009 Conference :

More Truffles, Mints & Chocolate Dipped Fruits :

And without even realising it, it’s been over 2 hours since our arrival at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport now, & both Dear & I have walked to the further end of the Lindbergh Terminal – although we’d to skip some of the Shops along our way!!

We’re now outside another smaller MINNESOTA! Souvenir Store :

See the below BLACK BEARS wearing the MINNESOTA Jumpers – do you think they’re handsome?!?! Well, I DO, pretty much, but Dear says they’re not nice cos they’re so black!!! He never really fancy black stuffs very much & I’m so silly to have listened to him cos I later realise how much I miss them!! ERRRRR I should have brought the Black Bear with the Green Jumper home with me ((

Dear holding his Souvenir purchase outside MINNESOTA! :

Dear’s MINNESOAT! Souvenir T-shirt :

Another MINNESOTA! Shopping Bag :

And from our various local Minnesota Souvenir purchases that we’ve made at the Airport – here’re the United States of America Coins that we received.

United States of America One-Cent Coins :

United States of America Five-Cent Coins (or a Nickel) :

United States of America One Dime (or 10-cent Coins) :

United States of America Quarter Dollar (or 25-Cent Coins) :

And the following is a snapshot of the MINNESOTA SHINES beside MINNESOTA! – where one can be seated to have his/her shoes hand-shined!! Well, I especially like this pic alot as I find the Night Lighted Skyscrapers Scenery behind the windows really gorgeous!! Don’t you agree?!!

And while waiting for Dear to visit the washroom, I walk alone around the Airport snapping photos – here’re some Minnesota Tidbits & Drinks Vending Machines :

Lockers Rental Station :

Newspapers & Magazines Vending Machines :

And here’s the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport – Lindbergh Terminal Directory :

Soon, I find myself stepping onto the following Airport Travelator with the distinctive “WALK” & “STAND” Signs – back to the recent smaller MINNESOTA! store :

And I snap a photo of the following Minnesota Aurora Borealis Arcade Centre while on the Travelator – Aurora Borealis is Latin for Northern Lights which are natural phenomenon appearing in different colors & shapes – rays, glows, curtains & pulsating patches that occurs regularly & covering the night sky of Northeastern Minnesota :

And another snapshot of the Northwest Flights Arrival & Departure Information Screens :

I’m soon back at the smaller MINNESOTA! store where I have a quick browse through inside, & this is when the in-store Salesgirl begin to chat with me asking “Where am I flying to” & “Where am I from?” which in the first place she thought I’m a Japanese or Korean…………… 

And I soon find out that the Salesgirl’s actually from Africa who’s come & been living in Minnesota for 4 years now. No wonder we’ve been seeing so many Black people since our arrival in Minneapolis & as I guess, they’re actually mostly African Immigrants.

And very funny thing is the Salesgirl’s completely awed by the fact that I’m almost 38 years old now when we start chatting about our age!! She’s a 26-year-old mummy of a 8-month-old baby girl & she thinks I’m only about 24 years old heheh!!

And she keeps telling me that I look so young & that my face is very beautiful & my body in lovely shape which I in-turn tell her I’m already so old & so fat compared to her slender frame!! She’s really funny & very cute cos she just can’t believe that I’m about to turn 40 that I almost have to show her my Passport as proof haha!!

Well, the Salesgirl & I pretty much chat till Dear’s out of his toilet break, & I am about to ask her for a photo with me if not for her getting very busy with a customer who’s just walked into the Store………….

Soon after, Dear checks out the nearby Northern Lights Grill Restaurant as he’s feeling a little hungry - look at its amazingly carved Timber Wolves outside the Restaurant :

And here below’s my Slideshow of all photos taken so far at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport – Lindbergh Terminal – attached with my 2 lovely SNOWY COVERED MINNESOTA BOY WITH MOOSE, & SPLIT ROCK LIGHT STATION Souvenir Magnets which my nephew (Daniel) got me during his recent month-long vacation in the Canadian & US states :